Spark-plug protector



H. E. VAIL.

.SPARK PLUG PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 21 1919-- Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

" "UN-ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT E. VAI L, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

- SPARK-PLUG rnornc'ron.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

Application filed October 2, 1919. Serial No. 327,861.v

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that'I, HERBERT E. VAIL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new'and useful Improvements in Spark- Plug Protectors, of. which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in internal combustion engines and more particularly to an auxiliary combustion chamber in which the spark plug is adapted to ignite.

An important object of this invention is to provide an auxiliary combustion chamber .for combustion engines having novel means for maintaining the electrodes of the spark plugs at a'high (temperature to enablethe same tofcontinue firing while laden with oil.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described having novel means for directing the explosive mixture to the sides of the electrodes of the sparkplug whereby the same are prevented, to a high degree, from becoming coated with oil.

A further object'is to provide a device of the class described which maybe readily applied to an internal combustion engine without altering the construction of the engine or of the spark plug. I

A further object of the invention 1s to provide a device of the class'described which is eflicient, of highly simplified construction and cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the in-- vention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part. of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designat like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section laden to the sides of the electrodes.

5 designates one wall of a cylinder of an internal combustlon engine having an in- .teriorly screw threaded opening 6 adapted for the reception of a spark plug.

The invention includes a conical shell 7, formed of cast iron, bronze or the like and havlngits lower end provided with an exterlorly screw threaded attaching head 8 which as illustrated in Fig.1 is adapted to be threaded into the opening 6. The upper portlon of the conical shell 7 is provided with a polygonal sided nut-like extension 9 adapted to be engaged by a wrench for inserting the device into the spark plug opening of a cylinder.

As bestillustrated in Fig. 1 an interiorly screw threaded tubular'extension 10 depends from they upper side of the conical shell 7 and is arranged within the same. The outer side of the depending tubular extension 10 is spaced from the inner side of the conical shell 7 for providing an annular heating chamber 11. The lower side of the tubular extension 10 is spaced upwardly from the cylindrical head 8 for forming an auxiliary combustion chamber 12 in communication with the annular heating chamber 11. A spark plug 13 is adapted to be threaded into the tubular section 10 and is provided with electrodes 14' which are arranged in the auxiliary combustion chamber 12 when the device is in position.

The cylinder head 8 is provided with a plurality of intersecting gas passages 15 which communicate the auxiliary combustion chamber with the main combustion chamber of the cylinder. The passages 15 .extend substantially parallel to the sides of the shell 7 and are inclined outwardly with respect to the vertical axis of the shell and thereby direct the gases which may be oil In directing the oil laden gases to the sides of the electrodes, the electrodes are prevented from through the device embodying my invenbecoming short circuited. When the gases tion, the same being shown in use;

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the device applied;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section line 33 of Fig. 1; H

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section through a slightly modified form of the invention. I

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown several preferred embodiments of the invention, the numeral taken on in the combustion chamber are compressed preparatory to igniting the same 'aportion of the compressed gases is injected into the chambers 12 and 11. The gases are first ignited within the shell and the expansion of these gases as a result of the explosion of the same generates an intense heatwhich causes the electrodes to become very .hot. The heated condition in which the electrodes are maintained during use enable's'them to .continuefiring even though coated with oil.

in Fig. 4 the shell 7 is cast from aluminum and is especially adapted for use in air cooled motors. Due to the high degree of heat generated by air cooled motors the ins'ulators of the spark plug repeatedly crack and become worthless. To maintain the spark plug at a uniform temperature l[ have provided circumferential cooling fins 16 on the outer side of the shell 7. The annular chamber 17 provided-between the depending tubular extension 10 and the shell 7 islessened in width and height for preventing the.

accumulation and concentration of heat about the spark plug. Due to the heat transmitting qualities of the aluminum, the heat generated within the, shell is efficiently dissipated through the fins 16.

In the practice of the invention, the shell 7 is threaded into the usual spark plug opening of an internal combustionengine and a spark plug is subsequently arranged in the top of the device as illustrated in Fig. 1. The compression of the gases in the main combustion chamber of the motor forces the gases into the interior of the shell 12 where they are ignited by the sparking of the electrodes. The consequent expanslon of the.

gases generates an intense heat about the electrodes and thereby enables the electrodes to fire more efficiently. Upon being injected into the interior of the shell the gases are passed to' the sides of the electrodes and any oil which may be suspended in the gas is directed to the sides of the electrodes and prevented from coming in contact with the same. The firing of the gases within the shell causes. the compressed gases within the cylinder to explode.

In using the device shown in Fig; 4:, the

shell 7 is arranged within the spark plug opening of an air cooled motor and the fins 16 serve to dissimte the heat from the interior of the shell and thereby prevent the porcelain insulators from cracking.

It is to be understood that the form of the inventon herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that such minor changes in arrangement and construction of parts may be made as will remain within the spirit of the invention and the scope ofwhat is claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A device of the .class described including a shell having an attaching head, and means to secure a spark plug to the shell whereby the electrodes of the same are arranged withinthe shell, said attaching head sages,

being provided with passages opening difor directing the incoming gases laterally of said electrodes.

2. A device of the class described including a shell, means to secure a spark plug to the shell in spaced relation to the sides of the same, and an attaching head associated withthe shell and having gas passages extending at an angle to the vertical axis of the shell opening directly into the same.

3. A device of the class described including a conical shell, an attaching head carried by the shell and having gas passages extending substantially parallel to the side walls of the conical shell, and means to secure the spark plug to the shell in spaced relation to the side walls of the same.

4. A device of the class described including a conical shell, an attaching head carried by the shell and having a plurality of intersecting gas passages extending outwardly from the vertical axis of the shell, and means to secure a spark plug to the shell whereby the sparking points of the same are spaced laterally of the incoming gases.

5. A device of the class described includcarried by said shell and provided with a gas passa e.

6. A device of the class described including a shell, a depending tubular extension arranged within the shell and having its lower end spaced upwardly from the opposite end of the shell for forming an auxiliary combustion chamber, and an attaching head carried by the said shell and having gas passaid depending tubular extension be- 1ng spaced inwardly from the side walls of said shell for forming an' annular chamber in line with said gas passages.

7. A device of the class described includin a conical shell, an interiorly screw threaded depending tubular section extendinto the shell' in spaced relation to the side walls of the same thereby forming an annular chamber, the lower side ofsaid tubular section being spaced upwardly from the bottom of the shell for forming an aux iliary combustion chamber in communication with said annular chamber, and an at-- taching head carried by the lower side of the shell and having'openings extending substantially parallel to the side walls of said conical shell for directing the gases laterally of said tubular section. 8. A device of the classdescribed including a shell, an attaching head carried by the shell, a spark plug supporting member arranged within the shell in spaced relation to the side walls of the same, said attaching head being provided with gas passages, and cooling fins carried by said shell.

' 9. A device of the class described including a conical shell, a tubular section carried by one end of the shell in spaced relation to the side walls of the same, thereby forming an annular chamber and extending into the same and having its lower end terminating upwardly from the opposite end'of the shell for forming a combustion chamber in communication with-said annular chamber, an attaching head carried by said conical shell and having gas passages, and cooling fins carried by said conical shell; said gas passage being directed toward said annular chamber.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HERBERT E. VAILV [L.s.] 

